10-01 (Seattle – October 1 2012) EPA Continues Burn Ban for the Yakama Reservation, Lifts Burn Ban for the Warm Springs Reservation and the Air Quality Burn Advisory lifted for Colville and Spokane Reservations

Contact: Gary Olson, 206-553-0977, olson.gary@epa.gov or Keith Rose, 206-553-1949, rose.keith@epa.gov

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 will continue a burn ban on all outdoor burning on the Yakama Reservation  through Thursday, October 4th, due to the impact of smoke from wild fires.  This smoke has caused air quality monitor readings to approach and at times exceed the unhealthy level for sensitive groups.   These wild fires are expected to continue to impact air quality over the next several days  Therefore these burn bans will remain through Thursday, October 4th, when EPA will re-evaluate the situation.
These burn bans apply to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries.   Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of woodstoves and fireplaces, unless it is your only source of heat. Although the wild fires are continuing,  better air dispersion should help clear out smoke over the next several days for the Colville, Spokane and Warm Springs Reservations.  Therefore we are lifting the Burn Ban on the Warm Springs Reservation and also lifting the Air quality Advisory for the Colville and Spokane Reservations.  It is important to observe any fire safety burn bans that are in place on these Reservations

Air pollution can have significant health impacts.  Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period.  Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with difficulty breathing and with heart and lung problems.  Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the FARR Hotline or visit the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR) website for the current burn ban status at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm.



Gary Olson
OAWT  Suite 900
EPA Region 10
1200 6th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
206-553-0977